WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

TONIGHT WE RECAP THE 2021 KENTUCKY GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

LAWMAKERS PASSED A ONE-YEAR $12 BILLION STATE BUDGET, PUT NEW RESTRICTIONS ON NO-KNOCK WARRANTS, SOUGHT TO RESTRICT TH GOVERNOR'S EMERGENCY POWERS, AND DEVISED A HYBRID PENSION PLAN FOR NEW TEACHERS, A SCHOOL CHOICE BILL AND MORE.

TO DISCUSS WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHAT DIDN'T, WE ARE JOINED IN LEXINGTON TONIGHT BY FOUR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS: SENATOR DAMON THAYER, A GEORGETOWN REPUBLICAN AND SENATE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER.

SENATOR MORGAN MCGARVEY, A DEMOCRAT FROM LOUISVILLE AND SENATE MINORITY FLOOR LEADER.

REPRESENTATIVE STEVEN RUDY, A PADUCAH REPUBLICAN AND HOUSE MAJORITY FLOOR LEADER.

AND REPRESENTATIVE ANGIE HATTON, A WHITESBURG DEMOCRAT AND HOUSE MINORITY WHI WE WANT YOU TO JOIN THE CONVERS SEND US A QUESTION OR COMMENT O TWITTER @KYTONIGHTKET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.ORG.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/KYT MAKE SURE TO CHECK THE BOX THAT SAYS YOU'RE NOT A ROBOT.

OR YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-494 PLEASE GIVE US YOUR NAME AND WHERE YOU'RE FROM ON ALL MESSAG WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

IN ONE PLACE, WHICH I REALLY, REALLY LIKE.

I HOPE YOU ALL ARE WELL RESTED.

THERE IS A SHOW OF HANDS ON BEING WELL RESTED?

>> LET'S GO WITH THAT.

>> LET'S JUST GO WITH THAT, RIGHT?

SO LET'S START OFF ON A REALLY HIGH NOTE AND TALK ABOUT BIPARTISAN VICTORIES BECAUSE THERE WERE QUITE A FEW BILLS IN WHICH THERE WAS BIPARTISAN COOPERATION, SO I'LL GO WITH YOU FIRST, LEADER THAYER.

GIVE US ONE.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO TAKE UP ALL THE GOOD BILLS AND NONE OF YURY OTHER FRIENDS GET TO PLAY, SO GIVE US ONE.

>> OKAY.

I DON'T HAVE TO PHONE A FRIEND FOR THIS ONE, RENEE.

FOR ME IT WAS SENATE BILL 120, THE BILL THAT REALLY STAVED KENTUCKY'S SIGNATURE HORSE INDUSTRY, THE BILL THAT LEGALIZED ONCE AND FOR ALL HISTORICAL HORSE RACING AS PARI-MUTUEL RACE WANE,.

IT WILL CONTINUOUS THE POSITIVE TRA JEK TOY TRAIL BLAZERS TO OFFER THE BEST DAILEY HORSE RACING PURSES AND I PREDICT BE THE BEST REAR YEAR ROUND CIRCUIT IN AMERICA.

WE'RE COMPETING AGAINST FLORIDA, NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA WHERE THEY OUTNUMBER US IN POPULATION TREMENDOUSLY, BUT WE ARE THE HORSE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND I'M GRATEFUL TO THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED FOR SENATE BILL 120 AND TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR FOR SIGNING IT INTO LAW.

>> AND THAT SEEM LIKE SIX MONTHS AB.

IT WAS EARLY ON IN THE SESSION, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING.

>> IT WAS VERY EARLY ON IN THE, AND IT DOES FEEL LIKE SIX MONTHS AGO BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY DIFFICULT AND HEART-WRENCHING VOTE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, AND THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF LINGERING FEELINGS OUT THERE BECAUSE OF IT, BUT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I KNOW IT WAS A HARD VOTE FOR SOME AND SOME PEOPLE WISH WE DIDN'T VOTE ON IT AT ALL, BUT ALL WE WERE DOING IS CODIFYING IN STATUTE SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN GOING ON IN KENTUCKY FOR TEN YEARS PER THERE ARE NUMEROUS COURT OPINIONS IN FAVOR OF IT UNTIL THERE WAS A COURT OPINION THAT WAS NOT IN FAVOR OF IT LAST SEPTEMBER, AND I THOUGHT THE SUPREME COURT WAS WONK IN ITS RULING, AS I ALWAYS DO WITH THE SUPREME COURT LATELY, BUT THEY DID GIVE AS YOU CLEAR PATH TO LEGALIZATION, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE DID.

>> LEADER MCGARVEY, WHAT SAY YOU ON YOUR FAVORITE BIPARTISAN BILL?

>> I ENJOYED HEARING LEADER THAT I WEST BILL BECAUSE THAT BILL WAS INTERESTING IN THE FACT THAT YOU COULDN'T PASS IT WILL WITH BOTH DEMOCRATS AND/OR JUST REPUBLICANS.

YOU NEEDED BOTH PARTIES SO THAT WAS INTERESTING.

MOST OF WHAT WE DO IS PARTICIPANTS IN FRANKFORT.

OF THE BILLS WE PASS MOST OF THEM PASS WITH OVERWHELMING BIPARTISAN MARGINS.

ES ONE THATY COMES TO FIND IS THE FACT THAT WE FUNDED FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

IT TOOK ALL SESSION BUT WE DID APPROPRIATE $140 MILLION TO PUT INTO ELDERLY CHILDHOOD TEASING EVER, AND I KNOW.

THAT'S A BUILDING LOOK -- EDUCATION.

WE ARE WEK NOW MOVE TOWARDS PRE-K AND BEGINNING TO FUND EDUCATION BEFORE KINDERGARTEN.

BUT THAT WASN'T IMPORTANT FIRST STEP.

>> WOULD THAT HAD THAT HAVE HAPPENED HAD THERE THAT THE NOT BEEN PAY SCHOOL KNOWS BILE BMW THAT PRECEDED IT?

WAS THAT A BARGAINING CHIP?

>> I THINK YOU SAW MORE MOVEMENT ON THAT AFTER WE KNEW ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS.

WE FOUND OUT IN THE MIL OF THE BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE THIS YEAR ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT KENTUCKY'S GOING TO GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND I THINK THERE'LL PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THOSE LATE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS.

>> $140 MILLION FOR FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN STATEWIDE AND SOME OTHER GOODIES, REPRESENTATIVE LEADER RUDY, TELL US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR FAVORITES.

AND BECAUSE YOU WERE ONCE A&R CHAIR, I DON'T WANT YOU TO SAY THE BUDGET, BUT YOU.

>> A SURE.

WHEN WE STARTED THE SESSION, I THINK THE BUZZ WORD AROUND FRANKFORT WAS LIMITED BANDWIDTH, WHAT WOULD WE BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH KNOWING THAT WE HAD TO DEAL WITH A BUDGET AND A THERE HAD-DAY SESSION THAT HAD HIGHER THRESHOLDS FOR VOTE REQUIREMENTS THAN NORMAL.

WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO ADDRESS EXECUTIVE POWERS, AND THAT WAS LEADING UP TO IT, PLUS WE WERE DEALING WITH STILL BEING IN A PANDEMIC.

BUT THERE WERE SO MANY THINGS THAT WE WERE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT WHEN WE STARTED IN JANUARY, I NEVER DREAMED THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET AS MUCH OF THESE THINGS DONE THAT WE DID, BUT ONE THAT TRULY STANDS OUT FOR ME WAS HOUSE BILL 7.

REPRESENTATIVE BOWLING'S RECOVERY READY THAT REALLY DEALS WITH HOUR WE GOING TO DEAL WITH AN ONGOING PROBLEM, AND WE CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH TODAY'S PROBLEMS, AND WE WERE DEALING WITH A LOT OF PANDEMIC STUFF, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE OPIOID PROBLEM AND CRISIS THAT THAT WERE GOING ON AND HAD BEEN GOING ON, AND THIS IS JUST GOING TO GET COMMUNITIES INVOLVED IN ADDRESSING THE OPIOID PANDEMIC.

>> I WANT TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING THAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE BAND BECAUSE I REMEMBER ONE OF THE FIRST SHOWS DID I AT THE START OF SESSION IT WAS SAID, OH, WE'RE JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON A FEW KEY PIECES OF LEGISLATION.

I DON'T KNOW WHO WAS HERE THEN.

I KNOW IT WAS REPEATED MORE THAN ONCE.

SO I'M JUST THINKING THERE WAS A LOT OF ACTIVITY BEFORE THE VETO PERIOD, EVEN AFTER THE VETO PERIOD THAT SEEMED TO BE VERY ROBUST.

IS THAT JUST MY INTERPRETATION?

>> I AGREE COMPLETELY.

REPRESENTATIVE KOENIG MY DEAR FRIEND WHO SITS IN FRONT OF ME ON THE FLOOR, I TOLD HIM WE MIGHT PASS 60 BILLS WY THE END OF SESSION.

HE LAUGHED AND SAID, YOU KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO A LOT MORE THAN THAT.

HE WAS RIGHT.

I WAS WRONG.

WE GOT REALLY CLOSE TO PASSING 200 NEW LAWS.

>> NEACE GOOD FOR A 30-DAY SESSION.

>> AND A 30-DAY SESSION.

AND LIKE SENATOR McGARVEY SAID, MOST OF THEM BY AND LARGE WITH BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND KENTUCKY IS A BETTER PLACE AT THE END OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAN IT WAS IN JANUARY.

>> REPRESENTATIVE HATTON, LAS BUT NOT LEAST.

>> I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE BIPARTISAN ELECTION REFORM THAT WE DID.

WE WERE THE ONLY REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED STATE TO ACTUALLY EXPAND VOTING ABILITY TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND ACCESS TO VOTING.

WE NOW HAVE THE ABILITY FOR COUNTIES TO CREATE VOGTS CENTERS WHERE EVERYONE WHO IS REGISTERED CAN VOTE.

THERE'S THREE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, INCLUDING A SATURDAY.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE AND OUR DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR WORKING VERY HARD TOGETHER, AND THEN ALL OF THE LEGISLATURE AGREEING ON WHAT LEVEL OF REFORM WE WERE COMFORTABLE WITH, IN A YEAR WHERE SO MANY STATES HAD PROTESTS AND CLAIMS OF ELECTION FRAUD, KENTUCKY HAD WHAT NEARLY EVERYONE BELIEVES TO BE A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.

I'M REALLY PROUD OF US EXPANDING SOME OF THOSE RIGHTS.

>> OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE DID WANT MORE EARLY VOTING.

WE HAD, WHAT, TWO OR THREE WEEKS IN 2020, AND I THINK LEADER McGARVEY, YOU MAY HAVE COMMENTED ON THAT, JUST HAVING -- YOU HAVE THE THREE DAYS.

ONE IS A SATURDAY LEADING UP.

BUT IS THAT REALLY ENOUGH FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE VERY LIMITED WORK SCHEDULES AND OPPORTUNITIES TO FLEX THEIR SCHEDULES?

>> IT WAS A LITTLE LESS THAN WE MANAGED TO DO DURING THE PANDEMIC, BUT I THOUGHT IN THE END IT WAS A PRETTY GOOD COMPROMISE.

WE ALSO GOT AN ONLINE PORTLAND FOR REGISTERING.

>> AND YOU CAN TRACK YOUR VOTES THAT WAY, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY LIKE.

>> YES.

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE TWO TO THREE WEEKS OF EARLY VOTING EVER AGAIN.

>> I KNOW YOU SAID THAT YOU DID NOT LIKE THAT.

>> AS LONG AS I'M IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND AND WHY DO YOU OBJECT TO THAT.

>> >> BECAUSE ELECTION DAY IS SUPPOSED TO BE ELECTION DAY.

CAMPAIGNS ARE MEANT TO PEAK ON ELECTION DAY.

AND THE VOTERS CAN -- WITH THREE WEEKS OF EARLY VOTING, THERE ARE THINGS THAT THEY FIND OUT AFTER THEY'VE CAST THEIR VOTE.

JUST ASK CHARLES BOOKER.

IF THERE WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN EARLY VOTING IN THE JUNE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AGAINST MITCH McCONNELL.

HE STILL WOULD HAVE LOST, LIKE AMY McGRATH LOST, BUT HE WOULD HAVE BEEN THE NOMINEE.

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO CAST THEIR VOTES EARLY FOR.

>> Amy Hess: BEFORE AMY McGRATH BEFORE THE BOOKER INSUR GENES OCCURRED.

THAT'S THE THE PROBLEM WITH EARLY VOTING.

IF YOU HAVE IT TOO EARLY OR TOO MUCH, IT DOESN'T BENEFIT UNDERFUNDED CAMPAIGNS, AND THINGS ARE FOUND OUT IN THE FINAL DAYS AND WAKE OF CAMPAIGN, SO I DIDN'T LIKE THE TWO TO THREE WEEKS OF EARLY VOTING.

SECRETARY A DAMNS KNOWS THAT.

I TOWED HIM NUMEROUS TIMES.

AND I AGREED TO CARRY THE BILL IN THE SENATE.

I THOUGHT THAT THREE DAYS WAS A GOOD COMPROMISE BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS WE NEED TO GO.

I WANT TO GIVE A LOT OF CREDIT TO REPRESENTATIVE JENNIFER BECKER AND REPRESENTATIVE JAMES ALLEN TIPTON AND REPRESENTATIVE JOSH BRANSCUM WHO WORKED VERY HARD WITH OUR COUNTY CLERKS, WITH OUR BOARD OF ELECTION AND SECRETARY ADAMS AND OUR UNITED STATES SENATOR RAND PAUL.

SENATOR PAUL IS LEADING A NATIONAL EFFORT TO PUSH FOR REASONABLE STATE-BASED REFORMS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE ELECTIONS OCCUR.

ELECTION SHOULD NOT BE RUN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LIKE PRESIDENT BIDEN IS TRYING TO RAM THROUGH CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, AND I THINK RAND CAN TAKE -- SENATOR PAUL CAN BE VERY PROUD TO TAKE THE MESSAGE OF WHAT WE DID IN KENTUCKY AS HE USES HIS BULLY PULPIT TO PUSH FOR STRONG ELECTION REFORMS MORE STATES BECAUSE OUR BILL IS ONE OF THE STRONGERREST ELECTION INTEGRITY LAWS NOW IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT'S WHAT MATTERS TO ME, IS PROTECTING THE INTEGRITY OF THE BALLOT.

>> NOT NECESSARILY EXPANDING A BETTER KENTUCKY TO THE BALLOT.

>> NO.

I'M ALL ABOUT INTEGRITY, AND, LOOK, I A AGREE TO EXPAND ACCESS.

I GREED TO REGION VOTING CENTERS.

I AGREED TO THREE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, AND A GREED ON THE WEB PORTAL FOR ABSENTEE BALLOTING DUTY BUT DID I NOT AGREE TO UNLIMITED MAIL-IN BALLOTS LIKE THE GOVERNOR WANTS WANTS AND I PUT AN AMENDMENT ON THE BILL THAT SAYS THE PORTAL CANNOT OPEN UNTIL 45 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, IT WILL CLOSE 14 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION AND ACCORDING TO THE BILL ALL BALLOTS MUST BE COUNTED ON ELECTION DAY.

NO MORE OF THIS BALLOTS BEING COUNTED THREE DAYS AFTER ELECTION DAY LIKE WE DID LAST FALL.

>> TIME LAPSE VERSUS SNAPSHOT.

DO YOU THINK, LEADER McGARVEY, THAT IT STRIKES A BALANCE BETWEEN ELECTION SECURITY PRIORITIES AND ENHANCING AND EXPANDING VOTING ACCESS?

>> WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING TO GET BEATER ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX FOR YEARS SO I'M GLAD TO SEE WE HAVE BETTER ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX, WE HAVE INCREASED DAYS FOR VOTING, THAT RECOGNIZES THAT THIS IDEA THAT ELECTIONS OCCUR WITH ONE TUESDAY IN NOVEMBER, WITHOUT MODERN TECHNOLOGY IS THE WAY WE HAVE TO DO THINGS.

WE NEED TO KEEP EXPANDING PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO VOTE IN KENTUCKY.

AT A BARE MINIMUM I THINK WE NEED TO PERMANENTLY COD MY THE CHANGES IN 2020.

THEY WORKED.

PEOPLE LIKED THEM.

IT RESULTED IN A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.

>> AND HIGH VOTER MANY PARTICIPATION FOR BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

>> I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK BEYOND THAT BE WITH NOT JUST THE CHANGES 2020 BUT WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE GET INTO THE RESTORATION OF ROWING VOTING RIGHTS.

>> THAT'S ONE THING THAT DIDN'T GET DONE, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE LAYER.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS.

>> AT LEAST.

>> AND IT HAS ANN A BARNETTER, LEADER THAYER AND LEADER RIDE.

I REMEMBER JEFF HOOVER FROM JAMES 29 REPUBLICAN, HAD SPONSORED THAT MEASURE A FEW YEARS AGO AND IT GOT LIKE 83 VOTES IN HOUSE.

SO WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO MOVEMENT ON AUTOMATIC VOTING RIGHTS RESTORATION N. >> SENATOR JIMMY HIGDON SPONSORED THE BILL A YEAR OR TWO AGO, AND I VOTED FOR IT BECAUSE IT HAD AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT ABOUT A REASONABLE WAITING PERIOD FOR A FORMER CRIMINAL ONCE THEY HAVE COMPLETED THEIR SENTENCE TO NOT COMMIT ANOTHER CRIME BEFORE THEIR VOTING RETIRES RESTORED.

WE PASSED THAT IN THE STAT SNAPPED IT DIDN'T PASS THE HOUSE.

AND I'LL BE HONEST WITH YOU, THIS SESSION IT REALLY NEVER CAME BOPS OF THE BANDWIDTH ISSUES THAT YOU AND LADDER RUDY ALLUDED TO EARLIER.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A 30-DAY SESSION WITH MORE VOLUME AND MORE INTENSITY BECAUSE OF COVID, BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO ROLL BACK WHAT WE SAW AS EXECUTIVE RANCH.

I DON'T REMEMBER REACH AND ALL THE VETO OVERRIDES THAT LED TO BRANDRETH ISSUES, THE FACT THAT WE HAD FOOD A EMBRYOLOGY IN AN ODD-NUMBER-YEAR-OLD AND IS RELATIVELY UNPRECEDENTED, AND FRANKLY TOO MANY BILLS.

WE'VE GOT -- AND I SAID THIS REGARDING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS -- WE'VE GOT TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT THE VOLUME OF BILLS THAT ARE FILED EVERY SESSION.

I'VE HAD SOME MEMBERS SAY, WELL, YOU SHOULD LIMIT EACH MEMBER TO TWO BILLS.

>> CAN YOU DO THAT?

>> NO, I DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO USE A LITTLE INTROSPECTION HERE.

WE ARE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IS THE SUPER MAJORITY PARTY, AND WEAR SUPPOSED TO BE THE PARTY OF SMALL GOVERNMENT YOU THE, BUT YET WE FILE A LOT OF BILLS THAT, FROM WHAT I HEARD, HAD TO BE PASSED RIGHT NOW AND COULDN'T WAIT ANOTHER NINE MONTHS.

SO EVERY CHANCE I GET TO SEND A MESSAGE TO MY BRETHREN, IN BOTH PARTIES, LET'S TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND REALLY LOOK AT DO WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THESE BILLS FOR CONSIDERATION?

>> I'M SURE WHIP HATTON WOULD AGREE THAT SOME OF THOSE BILLS YOU COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT.

>> I'M STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FEMALE EQUIVALENT IS FOR BRETHREN.

BOTH CHAMBERS.

>> IF YOU COME UP WITH IT, I'M HAPPY TO USE.

>> IT GENDERS NEUTRAL LANGUAGE.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GOOGLE.

>> IT IN YOUR HONOR, REPRESENTATIVE HATTEDON WE WILL BE USE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

Y WE HAD OVER 900 BILLS FILED AND NEARLY EVERYTHING THAT GOT PASSED WITH AN EMERGENCY CLAUSE AND DID NOT WAIT ANOTHER NINE MONTHS.

ESPECIALLY FROM THE MINORITY PARTY SO MANY OF THEM SEEMED THEY WERE NOT NECESSARY.

WE DID AWAY WITH ALL OF THE RULES WE HAD FOR OURSELVES NORTH TO HAMMER THINGS THROUGH SO, AND IT BECAME A LONG SHORT.

>> AND SO DO I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THE PROCESS.

TOWARD THE END, THE DEBATE WAS LIMITED, AND I'LL GET TO YOU, LEADER RUDY, ON THIS, THE DEBATE WAS LIMITED, AND TO TEN MINUTES EACH SIDE, AND SO I WANT TO ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK THAT AFFECTED THE QUALITY AND IN THE PRODUCT THAT CAME OUT BECAUSE THE DEBATE WAS TRUNCATED IS THAT A NON-FACTOR?

>> WITHOUT A DOUBT.

BETTER LEGISLATION SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND COULD HAVE BEEN PASSED IF WE HAD HAD THE FULL DEBATE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS IS SUPPOSED TO ALLOW.

WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE THREE-DAY NOTICE OR COMMITTEE HEARINGS SO THAT THE PUBLIC CAN COMMENT, AND EVEN IN TIME OF COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS WHEN PEOPLE WANT COME IN PERSON, THEY CAN COME BY AT LEAST BY ZOOM INTO A COMMITTEE ROOM.

THEY HAVE TIME TO MAKE PHONE CALLS.

AND WHEN WE GET VERY LITTLE NOTICE BEFORE A BILL IS HEARD IN COMMITTEE, THE SAME DAY IT'S PASSED THROUGH THE FLOOR, THERE WAS EVEN AN EXERCISE WHERE ONE BILL WAS PASSED THROUGH HOUSE COMMITTEE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, SENATE COMMITTEE, AND FLOOR OF THE SENATE IN ONE DAY TO PROVE THAT IT COULD BE DONE, AND I DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I THOUGHT THAT THAT WAS SAD.

>> SO, LEADER RIDE, AND WE'VE HEARD LEADER JENKINS SAY FROM THE HOUSE DEMOCRATS 1 JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD.

YOUR ANSWER TO SOMETIMES THE SEEMINGLY RUSHED PROCESS THAT YOU -- >> WELL, MOST OF THE ISSUES THAT DEBATE WAS LIMITED ON, WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING FOR MONTHS, IF NOT YEARS.

>> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GOT TO THE VETO PART.

>> EXACTLY.

AND WHEN IT CAME TO THE VETO PART, WE HAD ALREADY DEBATED THEM ON THE FLOOR.

WE HAD A LIMITED NUMBER OF DAYS.

THE MINORITY PARTY WAS TRYING TO USE A FILIBUSTER, BASICALLY WE'RE FILIBUSTERING EVERYTHING.

THEY WERE HANDED OUT THEIR SCRIPTS TO GO MAKE THE SAME SPEECHES THAT THEY WERE, AND NOBODY'S DECISION WAS CHANGED BECAUSE OF ANY DEBATE THAT WAS GOING ON ON THE FLOOR.

THEY WERE TRYING TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK.

THEY KNEW THAT WAS THE PROCESS.

AND OUR MEMBERS HAD HAD ENOUGH OF IT AND SAID, LET'S LIMIT DEBATE, WHICH IS IN THE RULES IN THE ABILITY TO DO, AND WE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THAT RULE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE RULES EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN THE IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY P WBKO THE ABILITY TO LIMIT DEBATE, ESPECIALLY ON THINGS THAT NOBODY WAS GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND ON.

THEY JUST WERE TRYING TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK WHERE WE WOULDN'T GET TO THE NEXT BILL THAT THEY WANTED TO RUN OUT THE CLOCK ON WHERE WE WOULDN'T GET TO THE NEXT BILL THAT THEY ALL BLOCK VOTED NO AGAINST.

>> SO ONE QUESTION THAT WE HAVE HAD COME UP FROM PETE COUNTRYMAN FROM RADCLIFF, WAS THERE EVER ANY PROGRESS WITH THE PROPOSED GAS TSSAA?

>> THERE I WAS LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT THE GAS TAX.

IT HAD A HIGHER THRESHOLD IN A SHORT SESSION, REQUIRES -- WHAT?

-- 60 VOTES IN HOUSE AND 23 IN THE SENATE, AND I THINK THAT THE VOTES JUST WEREN'T THERE TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE AT THIS POINT.

I THINK THAT WE WILL BE LOOKING AT INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING NEXT SESSION OR POTENTIALLY IN A SPECIAL'S IF THE GOVERNOR SO CHOSE TO CALL.

BUT THE GAS TAX, WHILE IT'S NOT POPULAR, NOBODY WANTS TO PAY MORE TAXES.

I KNOW THAT VERY WELL, BEING AN A&R CHAIR FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I HEARD THAT TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

BUT THE GAS TAX IS SOMETHING THAT'S TRULY A USER FEE.

IN THE IF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND NOT OVERPROGRAM THE ROAD PLAN, THE MONEY THAT'S SPENT ON THE GASOLINE TAX WILL GO TO BUILD ROADS, WHICH IT'S DESIGNED TO DO AND CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATED TO DO.

>> LEADER THAYER.

>> AS A SAID THE LAST TIME I WAS ON YOUR SHOW WITH REPRESENTATIVE McCOY AND REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS AND REPRESENTATIVE HATTON, I THIN THIS WAS THE RIGHT TIME TO RAISE THE GAS FAP EVER SINCE JOE BIDEN BECAME PRESIDENT WE HAVE SEEN WITH HIS SHUT DOWN OF THE KEYSTONE PIPELINE AND OTHER GEOPOLITICAL REASONS, WE'RE SEEING GAS PRICES SIKES SMIEK, AND I THINK AS WE COME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC INTO WHAT I HOPE TO SEE STAND ECONOMIC RECOVERY, I DON'T THINK SAYING MESSAGE TO THE WORKING PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY THAT WE'RE GOING TO RAISE YOUR GAS TAX WHEN GAS PRICES ARE GOING UP AND THERE'S ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY, I DON'T THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT CHOICE HAD TO MAKE.

HONESTLY, THE VOTES WERE NEVER THERE.

THEY WEREN'T FROM THE HOUSE FROM WHAT I'M TOLD.

THEY WERE NOT THERE IN THE SENATE.

CERTAINLY IN OUR CAUCUS.

I'M SURE IT WILL COME UP AGAIN, AND I THINK IT SEVERS DESERVES A BROAD AND ROBUST DEBATE.

THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN EFFORT TO PUSH IT THROUGH AT THE LAST MINUTE BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WAS APPROPRIATE DOOD EITHER.

THERE'S STILL $2 BILLION GOING INTO THE ROAD FUND, SO DON'T THINK THAT POTHOLES AREN'T GOING TO BE FIXED AND ROADS AREN'T GOING TO BE REPAIRED AND THE TRUCKS CONSTRUCTION ON THE MOUNTAIN PARK RAY FOR ANTICIPATIVE HATTON AND SENATOR WHEELER TO GET FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY TO FRANKFORT IS GOING TO STOP.

IT'S NOT.

IT'S GOING CONTINUE.

$2BILLION.

>> RENEE, FROM A RURAL LITER STANDPOINT, THE COUNTY EXECUTIVES IN COAL COUNTIES ESPECIALLY HAVE BEEN BEGGING FOR THE GAS TAX BECAUSE THEY DON'T GET COAL SEVERANCE TAX TO THE DEGREE THAT THEY USED TO, OUR ROADS ARE REALLY CRUMBLING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE FLOODING AS WELL AS THE TWO ICE STORMS THAT CRACKED PAVEMENT AND CAUSED IT TO BE SO MUCH WORSE THAN USUAL.

BUT I THINK A COUPLE OF FACTORS KEPT US FROM DOING IT THIS YEAR AND MADE AT THIS TIME YEAR THAT IT WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THAT WAS COVID-19, AND EVERYONE ALREADY SEEING SOME ECONOMIC DISTRESS, AND WORKING THAT, YOU KNOW, ADDING TO WHAT WE PAY AT THE PUMP WOULD FURTHER HINDER ECONOMIC RECOVERY.

AND THEN ALSO THE FACT THAT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT SENT A LOT OF MONEY TO COUNTIES.

AND SO SOME OF THAT, YOU KNOW, SURELY CAN ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEMS.

>> ONE OTHER POSITIVE NOTE THAT WE CAN TAKE FROM THIS SESSION IS WITH THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH BUDGET, WE FREED UP MORE MONEY TO GO TO THE TRANSPORTATION BUDGET THAT HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN SPENT WITH GAS TAX TONIGHT.

TOWARD THINGS THAT -- MONEY TOWARD THINGS THAT STATE POLICE, A LOT OF THEIR BUDGET COMES FROM THE ROAD FUND AS WELL BECAUSE THEY'RE IN CHARGE OF PATROLLING THE HIGHWAYS, AND THAT HAS BEEN OKAY, BUT WE FREED UP OVER $50 MILLION AND TRANSFERRED THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS TO FREE UP MORE ROAD FUNDS.

SO THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLE INCREASE, AND WE WILL SEE AN UPTICK, BUT WE'RE NOT NEAR AT THE LEVEL THAT WE NEED TO BE, ESPECIALLY AFTER ALL THE FLOODING THAT IS GONE ON IN THIS STATE AND THE HORRIBLE SHAPE THAT OUR ROADS ARE IN.

>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

AND GO BACK TO SOMETHING LEADER RUDE SAID A SECOND AGO, I AM GLAD SEE THAT THE MAJORITY IN KENTUCKY DOESN'T APPROVE OF THE USE OF THE FILIBUSTER, SO I'M GLAD THAT WE GOT THAT SETTLED FOR TONIGHT.

[LAUGHTER] BUT WHEN IT COMES TO OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, I MEAN, LOOK, WE'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT KENTUCKY'S INFRASTRUCTURE IS CRUMBLING AND THAT DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REPAIR IT.

WE WERE ABLE TO FREE UP SOME OF THAT MONEY, BUT THAT MONEY WAS FREED UP LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS THAT CAME INTO THE STATE.

THAT'S ONE-TIME MONEY.

THAT WILL NOT BE THERE IN PREVIOUS BUDGETS TO FREE UP THAT MONEY.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW, THOUGH, IS IN ORDER TEAK KANG ADVANTAGE OF THIS FEDERAL MONEY THAT WE HAVE, AND THIS IS A SMALL WINDOW -- WE HAVE THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS COMING IN, WE HAVE WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING MAY BE ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE DOLLARS FROM WASHINGTON COMING.

, WE HAVE SECRETARY GRAY AS OUR TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY WHO SERVED AS A MAYOR WITH THE SECRETARY BUTTIGIEG.

IS AND SO I THINK WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY CAPITALIZE ON SOME OF THE FEDERAL FUNDS THAT WILL BE COMING INTO BIT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE STATE AND MATCHES FUNDS, WHICH IS HOW THOSE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS WORK, AND OTHERS THINGS THAT WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT TO GET THIS ACROSS THE PIPELINE ONE IS OFFERING A REBATE TO SHOW THAT THE MONEY THAT WE GET FROM THE GAS TAX IS ACTUALLY COMING FROM PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES COMING THROUGH OUR STATE AND THAT THE CITIZENS HERE CAN APPLY FOR THAT REBATE AND GET THOSE INCREASED TAX DOLLARS BACK, SO THERE'S A LOT OF INNOVATIVE THINGS BUT THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO GO AWAY.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN AND THE $2.4 BILLION THAT KENTUCKY IS RECEIVING AND $1.3 BILLION YOU ALL ALREADY KIND OF SPENT.

THIS IS FOR BROADBAND, WHICH IS WELL NEEDED.

IF VIRTUAL AND REMOTE LEARNING TAUGHT US ANYTHING, IT'S THAT NTI COULD BE GREATLY IMPROVED WITH BETTER, HIRE SPEED ACCESS.

BROADBAND, WATER.

SOME BASIC THINGS THAT THIS MONEY IS GOING FOR.

YOU MENTIONED FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN.

TALK TO US A LITTLE BIT, LEADER RUDY, ABOUT THAT MONEY FROM THE RESCUE PLAN AND WHAT IS LEFT OVER AND WHO GETS TO SPEND THAT.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEND THAT.

WE HAVE PUT PARAMETERS IN WITH SOME BILLS.

WE WANT TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THAT.

WE WORKED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON THE DOLLARS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN A. APPROPRIATED.

I WAS REALLY STRUGGLING ON WHICH ONE TO PICK WHEN YOU SAID YOUR FAVORITE BIPARTISAN BILL BECAUSE BROADBAND IS SO HUGE AND IT IS GOING TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE, AND IT'S NOT JUST RURAL BROADBAND IT.

GOES TOO UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED AREAS.

I KNOW THERE'S SOME IN JEFFERSON COUNTY JUST LIKE THERE ARE SOME IN HICKMAN COUNTY THAT ARE UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED FOR THE BASIC NEED OF BROADBAND THAT HAS REALLY SHOWN THROUGH IN THIS PANDEMIC.

>> AND FOR RESIDENTIAL USES.

>> YES, AND THE LAST MILE.

NOT DEALING WITH THIS MIDDLE MILE DEBACLE OF KENTUCKY WIRE THAT WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING WITH FOR YEARS, BUT ACTUALLY GETTING THE LAST MILE OUT THERE.

AND REPRESENTATIVE REED REALLY STEPPED UP, AND WE WERE GOING TO DO IT WITH GENERAL FUND WHEN IT PASSED.

ACTUALLY WHEN IT PASSED THE HOUSE, THE FEDERAL BILL HADN'T EVEN PASSED AT THAT TIME, SO WHEN IT GOT DOWN TO THE SENATE, THE FEDS PASSED THAT BILL THAT SENT THE MONEY DOWN TO THE STATES.

>> BECAUSE YOU ALL HAD ALREADY ALLOCATED $150 MILLION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE HAD ALLOCATED AND KNEW THAT INVESTMENT WAS IMPORTANT.

ALSO, THE INFRASTRUCTURE ON WATER AND SEWER, WE DIDN'T LINE ITEM THESE THINGS.

WE SAID IT'S GOING TO CERTAIN COUNTIES.

PLUS THERE'S EXTRA MONEY SET ASIDE FOR CONSENT DECREASE AND OTHER PROBLEMS.

WE CAN DO WITH WATER AND SEWER.

AND THEN THE SCHOOL FUNDING, TOO, NOT -- I MEAN, WE'RE GOING TO BUILD SOME NEW SCHOOLS, BUT WE DIDN'T LINE ITEM WHICH ONES.

WE'LL GO THROUGH THE NORM PROCESS FOR THE SCHOOL FACILITY INTRODUCTION.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT THING WHERE WE CAN FREE UP SOME ONE-TIME MONEY AND REALLY MAKE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE WILL HAVE SOME OTHER THINGS.

I THINK WE'RE WAITING FOR MORE FEDERAL GUIDANCE.

WE ALSO MADE A HUGE INVESTMENT IN PAYING DOWN THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE LOAN.

>> $575 MILLION.

RIGHT?

>> THAT SENDS A HUGE REGIONS TO OUR BUSINESSES WHO WERE GETTING READY, THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN, JUST BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THEY BRENT A SCHEDULE A, THE BEST THAT YOU COULD BE TO A SCHEDULE E, THE WORST YOU COULD BE OVERNIGHT, AND I'M JUST GLAD THAT WE HAVE MADE THOSE INVESTMENTS AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE ABLE TO -- >> DOES THAT PAY OFF THE FULL DEFENDANT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE?

>> I THINK IT FULLY PAYS IT OFF, YES.

>> IT DOES.

IT PAYS OFF -- AND, LOOK, I THINK WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS, IT'S A GREAT THING, AND I THINK WE'VE GOT TO ACKNOWLEDGE CONGRESSMAN YARMOUTH'S ROLE IN THAT.

THIS REALLY CAME OUT OF HIS COMMITTEE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND MATED TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK, WHICH IS A GREAT THING FOR KENTUCKY AND FOR THE COUNTRY.

NOW, LIKE SO MUCH OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR ME, IT WAS KIND OF PEAKS AND VALLEYS, RIGHT?

SO I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE THE BROADBAND, AND WHAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE TO EXPAND INTERNET ACCESS IN KENTUCKY.

WHEN KIDS ARE GATHERING IN A MCDONALD'S PARKING LOT SO THEY CAN ATTEND SCHOOL, THAT'S A FAILING OF GOVERNMENT, AND WE NEED TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO GET THAT LAST MILE TO MAKE SURE THAT FAMILIES HAVE THE INTERNET ACCESS THAT THEY NEED.

CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

I MEAN, THIS IS AN AMAZING THING.

WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE EVERY KENTUCKIAN WITH CLEAN DRINKING WATER.

BUT CLEAN DRINKING WATER AND INTERNET ACCESS, THAT GETS US TO THE END OF 20th CENTURY.

WE'VE GOT TO START REALLY INVESTING NOT JUST IN THIS CENTURY BUT BEYOND.

SO WHILE I UNDERSTAND AND AGREE WITH LEADER RUDY ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT LOAN BEING PAID OFF, ALL $575 MILLION, THAT GOES THROUGH THE ENTIRE LOAN AND THE INTEREST ON THAT LOAN, I BELIEVE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO VARIATION IN THAT, SO YOU'VE GOT ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS IS AMAZON, AND I'M GLAD AMENDS' HERE, BUT ONE OF THE STATE'S LARGEST EMPLOYERS IS AMAZON AND THERE IS SHAKEN A TAX BREAK FOR THEM WHEN THEY'RE MAKING RECORD PROFITS DURING THAT I'M TIME PERIOD.

SO THERE'S STILL SOME MONEY LEFT TO USE FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

I DO HOPE THAT WEIR CALLED IN, THAT WE GET TOGETHER AND GET TOGETHER.

WHAT SEEMS BEST FOR THE ECONOMY RIGHT NOW?

HOW CAN WE INVEST IN THE FUTURE, NOT JUST FOR NOW?

WHAT DO WE DO TO MAKE THE PLACE THE PLACE WE WANT IT TO BE.

BUT FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN WE STILL HAVEN'T MADE THOSE DIRECT INVESTMENTS THE IN PEOPLE AND THE BUSINESSES THAT ARE SUFFERING AS PART OF THIS PANDEMIC.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR HAD AN I A PLAN IN HIS STATE OF COMMONWEALTH ADDRESS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THERE WERE SOME IDEAS THEN THROWN OUT THAT WE COULD DO AS PART OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE RECOVERY PLAN UP.

COULD GIVE 500 DOLLARS TO EVERY COUPLE MAKING $10,000 OR LESS.

YOU COULD DO DIRECT RELIEF TO THOSE BUSINESSES.

THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED $200 MILLION FOR THAT, AND WE KNOW PEOPLE ARE STILL SUFFERING AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUFFER.

I HOPE WE ALSO GET INTO SOME OF THAT DIRECT RELIEF TO PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES, NOT JUST THED WHY THE UNEMPLOYMENT.

>> AND IF COVID HADN'T SHUT DOWN A NUMBER OF BUSINESSES, WE WOULDN'T BE HAVING THIS DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW.

LET'S BE HONEST HERE.

THIS GOVERNOR HAS HAD A DELETERIOUS EFFECT ON BUSINESS ACROSS THIS COMMONWEALTH WITH HIS HEAVY HANDED COVID POLICIES.

>> RENEE, I THINK THAT WAS THE EXPECTED OUTCOME, BUT IN ALL THE WAYS THAT ARE MEASURABLE KENTUCKY ACTUALLY DID VERY WELL DURING THE PANDEMIC WHEN WE FIGHTER OTHER STATES.

WE SAVED A LOT MORE LIVES, AND ALSO OUR ECONOMY DID NOT TANK.

WE ARE ABOUT FOUR TIMES HIGHER THAN WE EXPECTED WEEK LIKE 5.6% UP IN OUR REVENUES AND WAY, WAY, WAY BETTER THAN WE COULD POSSIBLY HAVE EXPECTED.

SO WHILE YOU CAN ATTACK THE GOVERNOR FOR INDIVIDUAL MANDATES THAT HURT INDIVIDUAL BUSINESSES, OVERALL THEY WERE AS QUICK AS THEY COULD BE, THEY WAS LIMITED AS HE POSSIBLY COULD MAKE THEM, AND HE WAS MAKING SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS THAT HE COULD COME BACK LATER AND COUNTER CORRECT IF HE NEEDED TO, AND THIS MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKING IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE SPENT OUR WHOLE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DOING.

>> IT'S NOT MONDAY MORNING.

WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT SINCE LAST APRIL.

AND HE PICKED WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THIS ECONOMY, AND THERE'S ALSO AN UNEMPLOYMENT DEBACLE THAT WE HAVE HAD TO PUT MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO HELP HIM FIX.

THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT RECEIVED THEIR UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS FROM LAST MARCH, NOT MARCH OF '21, MARCH OF 2020, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE GETTING UNEMPLOYMENT CHECKS WHO HAVEN'T WORKED IN KENTUCKY FOR YEARS.

IT'S A DEBACLE.

AND HE'LL HAVE TO ANSWER FOR IT IN THE ELECTION OF 2023.

THAT WILL BE THE DEFINING ISSUE, IS HIS HANDLING OF COVID AND IF TERRIBLE DECISIONS HE MADE, LIKE SENDING STATE POLICE TO CITE PEOPLE FOR GOING TO CHURCH ON ON THE OTHER HAND SURRENDER, CLOSING DOWN THE SCHOOLS WHEN THE CDC SAID THERE WAS STRONG EVIDENCE THAT KIDS SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL, AND PING WINNERS AND LOSERS IN BUSINESS AND DESIGNATING THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS IN KENTUCKY.

>> SEVERAL THINS TO ADDRESS IN LEADER THAYERS' REMARKS THAT HE JUST MADE.

ONE, THE GOVERNOR ACTUALLY WAY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A FEW WEEKS IN DECEMBER DID NOT SHUT DOWN THE SCHOOLS.

>> HE MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO STAY OPEN.

>> THEY COULD HAVE STAYED OPEN BE UNDER LOCAL CONTROL IF THEY HAD WANTED TO.

THE GOVERNOR MADE A RECOMMENDATION AND THAT WAS IT.

WE HAVE SEEN HOW CERTAIN PEOPLE EVEN IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT TREATED THE RECOMMENDATION OF GOVERNOR.

THEY WERE NOT LAWS.

THE SWORD HAD CONTROL OVER THAT.

AS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, WE ARE ALL FRUSTRATED BY UNEMPLOYMENT.

I'M SURE EVERYBODY ON THIS PANEL RECEIVES CALLS DAILY FROM PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH UNEMPLOYMENT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A LILT LITTLE HOW WE GOT THERE.

THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION AND ARE.

>> I WOULD HAVE BET MONEY THAT HE WOULD HAVE BLAMED BEVIN BY 8:30 AND I WON THAT BET.

WE HAD LESS THAN 4% UNEMPLOYMENT AND WE COULDN'T HAVE PREDICTED A PANDEMIC THAT WAS GOING TO DECIMATE OUR ECONOMY.

SO, OF COURSE, YOU'RE GOING TO STREAMLINE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICES WHEN YOU HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF PEOPLE WORKING IN 50 YEARS.

THERE IS NO WAY.

AND, LOOK, THERE ARE CRITICISMS OF MATT BEVIN THAT YOU CAN MAKE THAT I WILL AGREE WITH, I'M MAKE SOME OF THEMUPS MYSELF.

HE BLEW THE ELECTION WHEN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LANDSLIDE WINNER.

BUT HIS HANDLING -- YOU GUYS KEEP WANTING TO GO BACK.

THERE'S NOTHING WORSE THAN IN OUR HOSPITAL INCUMBENT GOVERNOR OR PRESIDENT WHO TRIES TO CONTINUALLY BLAME HIS PREDECESSOR FOR HIS PROBLEMS.

HE RAN FOR THE JOB AND SAID HE COULD DO A BETTER JOB.

STOP BLAMING THE PREDECESSOR.

>> IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT LEADER THAYER JUST SAID.

YES, SEVERE CUTS WERE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF UNEMPLOYMENT, AND THIS TURNED ON A DIME, AND LET'S PUT THIS IN TERMS OF KENTUCKIANS CAN UNDERSTAND.

LAST YEAR THE KENTUCKY BABBLE TEAM WENT TO THE SEC TOURNAMENT TO PLAY IN THE SEC TOURNAMENT, AND WHEN THEY GOT THE SEC TOURNAMENT WAS SHUT DOWN.

THE THE WOLD STOPPED.

AND SO ALL OF A SUDDEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE THEY CUT 95 TIER 3 SPECIALISTS.

THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SECURITY CLEARANCES.

YOU CAN'T JUST MANUFACTURE PEOPLE TO GET THAT BACK.

THEY CLOSED TONS OF UNEMPLOYMENT CENTERS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH THAT COULDN'T OPENED.

AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO DO IT.

IT HAPPENED.

PEOPLE ONE EMPLOYED IN AN INSTANT, AND THERE WAS THIS INFLUX THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH BECAUSE, AS LEADER THAYER STATED, THOSE CUTS HAD BEEN MIMED NOT SAYING WE ANTICIPATED.

OF COURSE WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE IT.

BUT THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE CUTS TO GOVERNMENT.

YOU CAN'T ALL OF A SUDDEN GET IT UP AND RUNNING THE NEXT DAY BECAUSE YOU NEED IT NOW.

>> AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THOSE CUTS WERE MADE SO THAT WE COULD FULLY FUND THE PENSIONS.

IN', A PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE KNOWN ABOUT FOR YEARS AND DECADES LONG BEFORE COVID.

THERE IS PLENTY OF BLAME TO GO AROUND IN THIS WHOLE THING, BUT THIS GOVERNOR HAS UNILATERALLY MADE THE DECISION AND CUT THE POLICY MAKING BRANCH OUT COMPLETELY UNTIL WE CAME TO TOWN IN JANUARY.

WE ADVOCATED WHEN WE LEFT, PLEASE CALL US INTO SPECIAL SESSION.

WE WILL GIVE YOU THE TOOLS YOU NEED, BUT YOU HAVE TO -- WE ARE NOT IN A DICTATORSHIP, YOU HAVE TO INCLUDE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, THE POLICY MAKING BRANCH, AND WE GOT NO CALLS BACK.

NOW, YOU CAN BLAME MATT BEVIN.

WE CAN BLAME WHOEVER WE WANT ON THIS THING.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THE UNEMPLOYMENT DEBACLE HAS BEEN GOING ON LONG ENOUGH THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED.

NOW, WE -- THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH SAID, GOVERNOR, WE'LL SEND 100 OF OUR EMPLOYEES DOWN THERE JUST TO HELP YOU CLEAR THE BACKLOG.

THANKS, BUT NO THANKS.

IT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

IT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED.

AND I I DON'T DON'T WANT TO GET THE BLAME PI WANT TO HELP THE GUY FIXT BUT HE DOESN'T WANT TO TULL CALL US AND TELL US WHAT HE NEEDS OTHER THAN GIVES MORE TIME.

>> LEADER RUDY BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE IN THE LAST TWO SESSIONS I CAN GIVE YOU TWO REALLY GOOD EXAMPLES OF WAYS THAT THE LEGISLATURE IS LIMITED, AND WE ACTUALLY PASSED HOUSE BILL 4 TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR.

LAST YEAR WHEN COVID HIT, THE LEGISLATURE WASNOT READY, EITHER, AND I THOUGHT WE DID THE RESPONSIBLE THING BY PASSING A ONE-YEAR BUDGET SAYING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE REVENUES ARE GOING TO BE.

THAT'S WHY THIS SESSION IN PART WAS SO HECTIC, BECAUSE WE WERE DEALING WITH THAT DECISION FROM LAST TIME.

BUT THE LEGISLATURE HAD TO BE OUT BY APRIL 15th.

THIS YEAR THE LEGISLATURE HAD TO BE OUT NO MATTER WHAT BY MARCH 30th.

AND I THINK WE FOUND OUT WEREN'T WE IN BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES AND THE TWO CHAMBERS WHEN WE FOUND OUT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY WE GET FROM THE AMERICAN RESIDUE PLAN AND STILL DIDN'T HAVE THE GUIDANCE ON HOW TO SPEND.

>> IT OH, YEAH.

AND THEN LAST YEAR WAS THE CARES ACT.

I MEAN, IT WAS THE SAME TIME FRAME.

>> COMING IN LATE WHEN WE HAD TO REALLY PIVOT.

>> EXACTLY.

I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, WE PASSED THE HOUSE VERSION OF THE BUDGET LAST SESSION BEFORE THE FIRST CASE IN KENTUCKY.

I MEAN, AND ALL OF THIS HAPPENED JUST SEEMINGLY OVERNIGHT.

AND IT DID.

AND WE HAD TO REACT, BUT WE WERE CUT-OUT CONSTITUTIONALLY BOUND TO BE OUT OF THERE BY APRIL THE 15th AND THIS YEAR MARCH THE 30th.

AGAIN, ONLY ONE PERSON COULD HAVE CALLED THE POLICY MAKING BRANCH IN, AND HE REFUSED TO DO SO.

>> HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON THE BALLOT IN 2022 THAT WILL GIVE THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE US THE CHANCE THAT 35 OTHER STATES HAVE WHERE A GENERAL ASSEMBLY CANNOT IN THIS CASE CALL OURSELVES BACK IN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION BUT WE WOULD STILL END ON OUR CONSTITUTIONALLY MANDATED DAYS, BUT IF THE PUBLIC APPROVES IT, THERE WILL BE 12 EXTRA DAYS WHERE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY COULD CALL ITSELF BACK IN TO DEAL WITH EMERGENT SITUATIONS LIKE THIS, AND IT'S 12 DAYS BECAUSE THAT BASICALLY GIVES US THE TIME TO DO TWO FIVE-DAY SPECIAL SESSIONS WITH ONE EXTRA OVERRIDE DAY.

NOW, IF THAT PASSES AND THAT GOES IN THE CONSTITUTION, WE MAY NEVER USE IT FOR TEN YEARS, BUT WHAT THE PANDEMIC DID SHOW IS A FLAW IN OUR MODERN -- IN OUR CONSTITUTION THAT BASICALLY SHUTS OUT THE PEOPLE'S BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT FROM GOVERNING DURING AN EMERGENCY FOR NINE MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR, SO THAT -- THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.

OF COURSE, SPEAKER OSBORNE HAS BEEN PROMOTING SUCH AN APPROACH FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW, AND IT TOOK THE PANDEMIC IN ORDER FOR US TO GET A BIPARTISAN VOTE TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT IN 2022.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOULD CHANGE AND GIVE US SOME MORE FLEXIBILITY AND BASICALLY FORCE A CHIEF EXECUTIVE, THE GOVERNOR, TO WORK WITH US.

>> WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT.

>> THERE'S VERY LITTLE CHANCE THERE WILL BE A YEAR THAT GOES BY THAT WE DON'T USE IT.

FIRST OF ALL WEBSITES 12 EXTRA PAYDAYS FOR LEGISLATURE THAT THE MAJORITY MAY CALL US BACK IN.

AND IF I WERE THE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY RIGHT NOW, I WOULD BE SAD TO SEE A LEGISLATURE CALL ITSELF INTO SESSION TO DO WHATEVER THAT SUPER MAJORITY WILLS WITHOUT INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC SPED THROUGH, EVEN PASSING LAWS TO LIMIT OPEN RECORDS ACCESS AND TO DO SUCH THINGS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS WITH A VEILED PAY RACE FOR UGLIES EVER LEGISLATORS.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A ESSENTIAL IDEA.

>>TERRIBLE IDEA.

>> I THINK THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT DOES GIVE US 12 EXTRA DAYS.

IT IS JUST GIVES US 12 EXTRA DAYS TO ADJOURN.

>> IT GIVES US 12 STRAIGHT UP.

>> 12 STRAIGHT UP.

I KNOW IT GIVES US THE ABILITY TO ADJOURN AND BANK EXTRA DAYS IF WE NEED THEM TO DO AWAY BASICALLY WITH THE CALENDAR.

>> DO YOU THINK YOUR MEMBERS UNDERSTOOD THAT?

DO YOU THINK YOUR CAUCUS GOT THAT IN.

>> YEAH, IT WENT THROUGH SEVERAL FORMS AND THE SENATE MADE SEVERAL CHANGES TO IT AS WELL, AND WE'RE GOING TO -- YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE WILL HAVE ENABLING LEGISLATION NEXT YEAR THAT WILL GO ALONG WITH IT AND WHAT IT WILL ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE.

WE WERE TRYING TO MAKE THE CONSTITUTIONAL PART, THE STATUTORY PARTS AND CONSTITUTIONAL PARTS, WOULDN'T TO LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF STUFF THAT WE PUT IN CONSTITUTION WHERE WE ARE STATUTORILY MAKE SOME CHANGES.

>> BUT DO I WANT TO GET TO A POINT THAT LEADER THAYER MADE.

IT DOESN'T ALLOW TO YOU CALL YOURSELF IN, BUT IT IS DOES.

>> IT STARTED OUT AS WE COULD CALL OURSELVES IN FOR A SPECIAL SESSION.

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL VERSION.

THEN IT WENT THROUGH SEVERAL ITERATIONS WITH SPEAKER OSBORNE NEGOTIATING WITH PRESIDENT PRO-TEM ON THE SENATE DAVID GIVENS TO GET US TO THE FINITE POINT THAT WE STILL END ON A DATE CERTAIN BUT WE HAVE UP TO 12 OTHER DAYS WHERE WE CAN CALL OURSELVES BACK IN.

>> SO IT DOESN'T GET RID OF THE DEADLINE OF APRIL 15th.

>> IT DOES.

>> IT DOES.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE.

>> YES, THE DEADLINE IS STILL THERE.

MARCH 30th AND APRIL 15th.

>> MARCH 30th ODD NUMBER YEARS AND APRIL 15th FOR EVEN NUMBERED YEARS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND I THINK IT'S A REFLECTION OF A MODERN ECONOMY AND A MODERN NEED, AND I'LL TELL YOU, I DON'T THINK WE WOULD EVER COME BACK INTO SPECIAL SESSION UNLESS THERE WAS AN OVERRIDING REASON TO DO SO BECAUSE I THINK IF WE DID, OUR CONSTITUENTS WOULD REVOLT PRETTY STRONGLY AGAINST THAT, BUT I HAVE TO TELL THAT YOU LAST JUNE, JULY AND AUGUST, MY CONSTITUENTS WANTED US BACK IN SPECIAL SESSION TO DEAL WITH THE GOVERNOR'S COVID RESTRICTIONS, AND I WOULD POSIT THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT REPRESENTATIVE HATSON SAID.

A ECLECTIC SESSION ACTUALLY BRINGS MORE TRANSPARENCY AND MORE PUBLIC INPUT TO THE PROCESS BECAUSE YOU HAVE SOLVE HAVE TO HAVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

LET'S JUST SAY WE WERE IN A SESSION IN JULY OR AUGUST.

WE WOULD HAVE HAD LEGISLATION THAT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE ENDED PARTS OF THE EMERGENCY ORDERS EARLIER THAN THAN THEY DID.

WE STARTED ON THE 15 DAYS.

NOW WE'RE A 118 DAYS TO CONTROL MULTIPLE ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES.

WE WOULD HAVE TAKEN THAT UP AND THE GOVERNOR AND DR. STACK AND OTHER CABINET HEADS AND EXPERTS COULD HAVE COME IN AND THEY WOULD HAVE TESTIFIED IN A PUBLIC COMMITTEE HEARING ABOUT WHY THE EMERGENCY ORDERS NEEDED TO BE IN PLACE, AND THEN YOU WOULD HAVE HAD BUSINESS OWNERS AND SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS AND CHURCHES COME IN AND TESTIFY WHY THEY MAY FEEL THE OPPOSITE, WHY THEY COULD HAVE OPERATED SAFELY AND RESPONSIBLY IN THIS ENVIRONMENT.

>> IDEALLY -- >> IN FIVE DAYS?

>> -- YOU'D HAVE THAT SORT OF PUBLIC INPUT BUT NOT IN A FIVE-DAY SESSION, AND LIKE -- IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WITH NO RESTRICTIONS WHATSOEVER ON THE REASONS THAT WE CALL OURSELVES BACK IN, THAT IT ENT WOULD BE MISUSED FOR THINGS LIKE REDISTRICTING AHEAD OF AS SOON AS THE CENSUS COMES OUT, AND IF THERE WERE SOME SORT OF REQUIREMENT THAT IT BE ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES, MAYBE I COULD HAVE SUPPORTED IT.

>> SO I'M THINKING ABOUT THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT FAILED LAST YEAR, NOT MARSY'S LAW BUT THE ONE THAT WOULD EXPANDED THE TERMS OF THE JUDGES, AND PEOPLE, THE THOUGHT WAS THAT PEOPLE DIDN'T WANT, YOU KNOW, MORE OF THAT KIND OF ACTIVITY.

DOES THAT NOT APPLY HERE, THAT PEOPLE NECESSARILY THE DON'T WANT LAWMAKERS IN SESSION LONGER DOING MORE WORK THAT THEY MAY OR MAY NOT APPROVE OF?

>> I THINK IT VERY WELL COULD ALLY APPLY HERE.

I DON'T THINK IT'S A FOREGONE CONCLUSION THAT THIS AMENDMENT PASSES ON THE BALLOT AT ALL.

I THINK YOU HEARD LEADER RUDY TALK ABOUT THIS.

THE INITIALLY LEGISLATION FOR THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE REALLY IRONED OUT AND IN SOME WAYS BE IRONCLAD BECAUSE I WOULDN'T WANT TO US THE RIGHT THOSE TRICKY NOTWITHSTANDING WORDS INTO BUDGET OR SOMETHING ABOUT A STATUTE THAT WE PUT ON THE BOOKS.

SO FIGHTS IT'S A CONVERSATION I'M GLAD WE'RE HAVING BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE BEEN HAVING THE THAT THE LEGISLATURE NEED TO MEET DIFFERENT FOR QUITE SOME TIME PREREQUISITE SPEAKER OSBORNE AND SPEAKER PRO-TEM GIVENS SEEKING INPUT FROM MANY PEOPLE ON THIS.

NOT ONLY PUBLIC INPUT, THERE ARE SOME MEMBERS WHO AREN'T GOING TO LIKE THIS.

>> YOU STILL HAVE FULL-TIME JOBS.

>> I KNOW WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHO IS GOING HOME, WHO IS STAYING HERE, WHO HAS TO GET BACK FOR WORK, NOT FOR THIS JOB, FOR WORK.

THAT'S ONE OF THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME AS A LEGISLATOR.

WHAT DO YOU GET TO PLAN YOUR OTHER JOB?

>> AND ALSO LIMIT THE TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO COULD BE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IS THAT A NOT CONCERN, THAT IF YOU HAVE INDEPENDENT WEALTH OR YOU HAVE FLUTED IN YOUR PROFESSION OR YOU'RE A BUSINESS OWNER, THEATERS PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE ATTRACTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NOT THOSE WHO ARE RESTRICTED SUCH AS EDUCATORS AND OTHERS.

>> AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN LEGISLATURE FOR 16, 17 YEARS THAT HAS TO HAVE A SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE FROM MY PART OF STATE BECAUSE WHAT EMPLOYER IS GOING TOLD A HOW THEIR EMPLOYEE TO BE OFF FOR THREE MONTHS ONE YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS THE NEXT?

IT'S ALREADY HARD.

PLUS WE DON'T EVEN TALK ABOUT THIS, WE'RE IN THE INTERIM -- WE HAVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.

IT'S NOT LIKE WE'RE NOT HERE ANYWAY.

THIS WOULD JUST ALLOW US TO DO OUR JOB, AND I THINK THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT BECAUSE YOU'RE LOOKING AT AN EXTRA SPECIAL SESSION OR SO.

CHANCES ARE, MOST OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS UP HERE ANYWAY FOR COMMITTEE MEETINGS.

SO WHEN YOU WEIGH IT IN LIKE THAT, THIS WOULD JUST ALLOW US WHEN WE'RE UP HERE FOR OUR COMMITTEE MEETINGS, TO ACTUALLY DO WHAT WE'RE ELECTED TO DO, PASS POLICY.

>> NOBODY WANTS TO BE IN FRANKFORT ANY LONGER.

WE ARE A PART-TYPE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE AND BELIEVE ME WHEN WE ADJOURN SINE DIE WE ALL WANT TO GET BACK TO OUR HOMES AND FAMILIES AND OTHER JOBS, 32 BUT THERE WERE CERTAINLY EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES LAST YEAR WHERE PEOPLE FIRST FOUND OUT THAT WE COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND THEY WERE TO RESTRICT THE GOVERNOR'S COVID RESTRICTIONS, AND THEY WERE BEGGING US TO GET BACK IN SESSION, AND IT WAS A REAL CIVICS LESSON FOR MOST PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY LEARN WE WERE RESTRICTED BY THE CONSTITUTION.

SO WE'LL SEE IF BY EVER NOF OF 2022 THAT ISN'T IT STILL EXISTS.

GREAT THING ABOUT A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS THAT THE PEOPLE WILL GET TO DECIDE ON THIS.

>> I'M SURE THE TEXT IS AS LENGTHY AS IT HAS TO BE OR MARSY'S LAW OR IS THIS GOING TO BE ONE OF THOSE HALF-PAGERRER DEALS?

I DO WONDER HOW THAT WILL IMPACT THE TURNOUT.

>> I DON'T THINK THE LANGUAGE IS AS LONG AS MARSY'S LAW.

>> I'VE READ AND IT IT'S NOT.

IT'S ABOUT A HALF A PAGE.

>> I THINK THAT WHILE SOME PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR TO US COME BACK INTO SESSION THAT THERE ARE CERTAINLY PEOPLE WHO ARE SORRY THAT WE EVEN CAME INTO THE RECESSION REGULAR SESSION THIS YEAR, INCLUDING OUR TEACHERS, WHICH WE FAILED TO PRIORITIZE AND CONTINUED TO PUNISH.

WE DID FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FOR INCOMING TEACHERS.

WE DIDN'T EVEN FUND TEXTBOOKS, AND THEN WE GAVE AWAY $25 MILLION IN TAX CREDITS.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PUCK PUSH BACK.

>>S THIS IS TALKING ABOUT HOUSE BILL 563.

>> WE INVESTED MORE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION THIS SESSION THAN HAS -- >> HOW?

>> WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING.

ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN.

ALSO, IN THE AMERICAN RECOVERY ACT WE HAVEN'T EVEN HIT ON, THE THERE'S 1.

$1BILLION THAT WE COULD HAVE APPROPRIATED THAT WE DID NOT -- $1.1 BILLION, AND IT GOES STRAIGHT TO THE SCHOOLS.

WE COULD HAVE GRABBED THAT, TOO, BUT WE DIDN'T.

WE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I MEAN, ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN ALONE, LEADER -- >> SUPPORT FOR THESE OTHER EDUCATIONAL SERVICES.

>> WE PUT $150 MILLION INTO FULL-DAY KIDNEY AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE HATTON IS SAYING WE DID A DISSERVICE TO PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS NEED TO GETNER TALKING POINTS STRAIGHT.

THE THE ENTIRE GENERAL FUND BUDGET GOES THROUGH K-THROUGH 12, AND IF YOU INCLUDE THE $1 BILLION WE BUT INTO PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IT'S OVER HALF OF OF OUR STATE BUDGET.

ZOOM POEM WOULDN'T BE HAPPY UNTIL 100% OF THE BUDGET GOES TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN SAY WE DISRESPECTED TEACHERS FOR THE FIFTH OR SIXTH YEAR IN A ROW WE OVERFUNDED THEIR PENSIONS BY $500 MILLION.

THAT IS' THAT'S A-A-BILLION DOLLARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN DOING NOW, AND THAT'S ONE OF -- A HALF A BILLION DOLLARS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE GOOD LEGACIES OF THE BEVIN ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE IT WAS HIS LEADERSHIP THAT LED US TO DO THAT, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO IT UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION AND AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS PENSION REFORM.

ED MASSEY DID THE JOB RIGHT, MADE NO CHANGES TO CURRENT TEACHERS.

HE WENT OUT AND HE WORK WITH ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS GROUPS.

A MAJORITY -- I MEAN, THE JEFFERSON -- THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION IN JEFFERSON COUNTY ENDORSE DOLLARS.

ENDORSED IF BILL.

KEA WERE NEUTRAL ON IT.

THEY WEREN'T EVEN A POSED TO IT.

>> WHAT LEADER THAYER -- >> IT DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH I'M SURE, BUT ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS WERE INVOLVED.

HE DID A GREAT JOB OF BRINGING EVERYBODY THERE, AND WE PASSED SOME MEANINGFUL CHANGES FOR FUTURE HIRES AND GAVE A RAY OF HOPE TO A GROSSLY UNDERFUNDED AND UN -- >> THOSE ENDORSEMENTS WENT AWAY WITH SOME OF THE SENATE CHANGES, I WILL SAY.

THE JCEA DID NOT SUPPORT THE SENATE VERSION AND THEKEA DID NOT SUPPORT THE SENATE CHANGED VERSION IS IF.

>> WALL E DID WAS ASK TEACHERS TO WORK TWO MORE YEARS BEFORE RETIREMENT.

>> AND 55 IS THE AVERAGE RETIREMENT AGE.

>> I FEEL IF WE HAVE $75 MILLION IN TIMM TAX CREDIT AND IS $100 MILLION FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION FOR HISTORICAL PRESERVATION TAXES AND $6 MILLION TO A SEAL BALK HOTEL PROJECT THAT WE HAD MONEY TO PRIORITIZED TEACHERS.

>> IS ANY OF THE FEDERAL MONEY IN KENTUCKY HELPED THE TOURISM INDUSTRY?

THE STATE HELPED THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, RIGHT?

>> THERE'S STILL SOME FEDERAL MONEY IN THE ACT, I BELIEVE, THAT'S COME THROUGH THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HOPE BECAUSE THE TOURISM INDUSTRY HAS BEEN HIT VERY, VERY HARD WITH THE PANDEMIC, CERTAINLY PROBABLY THEM AND THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY THE TWO BIGGEST, AND THEY KIND OF GO HAND IN GLOVE, SOY THERE IS SOME MONEY AVAILABLE LEFT IN THAT ACT THAT WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE CRITERIA AND WE WEREN'T READY TO MOVE WITH THAT ALONG AT THIS PARTICULAR POINT.

>> IT'S $1.1 BILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY STILL AVAILABLE, AND THE GOVERNOR WILL HAVE TO CALL US INTO SPECIAL SESSION AND SEEK OUR AGREEMENT ON HOW TO SPEND IT BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE CONSTITUTION AND WHICH WE REAFFIRMED IN HOUSE BILL 192, I THINK, WE SAID THAT WE CANNOT SPEND ANY FURTHER FEDERAL DOLLARS WITHOUT THE APPROVAL.

>> OR BE FINED $900,000 OR SOMETHING?

>> THE ENTIRE BUDGET, THE OFFICE OF THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTOR $900,000.

>> WE ARE THE APPROPRIATORS.

THAT IS OUR JOB.

>> BUT YOU HAVE SEVERAL YEARS TO SPEND THIS MONEY.

DO YOU HAVE TO BE CALLED INTO SPECIAL SESSION?

YOU CAN DO IT NEXT YEAR JANUARY 4th.

>> THAT'S FINE.

IF WE WANTS TO LET THAT MONEY SIT, THAT'S FINE.

JANUARY 4 IS NOT THAT FAR OFF.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE'RE ALSO WAITING FOR SOME GUIDANCE.

AS WE ALL SAID WE'RE WAITING FOR GUIDANCE FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> WHEN IS THAT ANTICIPATED?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I TALKED TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE LAST WEEK AND I DON'T THINK THEY HAD A DATE CERTAIN YET EITHER.

>> AND THE GUY THAT'S ON THE CARES ACT, I -- THE GUIDANCE, IT CHANGED THREE TIMES BEFORE IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THIS AMERICAN RESCUE MAN MONEY, I STARTED THE SHOW TALKING ABOUT ALL DAY KINDERGARTEN, AND I'M SO GLAD WE'RE FUNDING ALL KAY DAY KINDERGARTEN BOUGHT WE'RE GOING THAT BECAUSE OF THE AMERICAN RESCUE ACT DOLORES.

THE SEEK FORMULA WAS NOT INCREASED.

TEXTED BOOK FUNDING WAS DECREASED.

YES, I'M GLAD WE'RE FUNDING TEACHER PENSIONS AND AS LEADER THAYER SAID WE'RE PUTTING MORE MONEY IN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX YEARS, THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE UNDERFUNDING THAT GOT US INTO THIS MESS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THE REALTY IS UNTIL WE'RE TALKING TALKING ABOUT BUCKS FOR BRAINS AND SEEK INCREASES, HOW WE ATTRACT AND RETAIN OUR BEST AND BRIGHTEST CARTERS EDUCATORS, UNTIL WE'RE HAVING THAT TYPE OF CONVERSATION ABOUT EDUCATION YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR PEOPLE LIKE ME AND REPRESENTATIVE HATTON TALK ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE SHORTCHANGING OF COURSE EDUCATION BECAUSE IT'S THE GENERATIONAL FIXED FOR KENTUCKY.

>> SCHOOLS ARE GETTING A MAJOR ONE-TIME WINDFALL ALSO FROM THE FEDERAL BAIL-OUT, FROM THE BIDEN BUCKS, INCLUDING $2 BILLION FROM ARPA TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> AND THAT'S THE AMERICAN -- >> RIGHT, AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.

BY THE WAY, THE FACT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE SEEK FORMULA FLAT AT $4,000 PER STUDENT DURING UNDER THE CERTAINTY OF THIS PANDEMIC ECONOMY, I THINK IS SOMETHING TO BE CHEERING, NOT DECRYING.

>> BUT THERE ARE ADVOCATE, EDUCATIONAL ADVOCATES WHO SAY THAT BECAUSE OF INFLATION THAT'S THAT'S NOT REALLY 4,000 REAL DOLLARS, RIGHT?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHICH SO-CALLED ECONOMIC GROUP OUT THERE.

THERE ARE A FEW THAT DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH CREDIBILITY WITH ME SO IT DEPENDS ON HOW IT'S COMING FROM.

>> IT'S NO HOLDINGS IT HARMLESS, AND I THINK ONE THING THAT WE LOOK AT IS THE $25 MILLION THAT HAS NOW BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE FOR PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO USE PUBLIC MONEY.

AND HERE'S MY PHILOSOPHICAL OBJECTION TO THIS.

IS THAT THE PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOLS THAT GET THIS MONEY TO ATTRACT KIDS INTO PRIVATE SCHOOLS USING PUBLIC MONEY, THEY'RE UNDER NONE OF THE RESTRICTIONS, THEY'RE UNDER NONE OF THE OBLIGATIONS THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE.

I MEAN, THE HALLMARK OF A PUBLIC SCHOOL THAT THEY ACCEPT ANYONE WHO WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR.

THESE PRIVATE SCHOOLS CAN DISCRIMINATE ON ADMISSION FOR ANY REASON THEY WANT.

THEY DON'T HAVE TO KEEP KIDS THERE THAT THEY DON'T WANT.

THAT $25 MILLION COULD HAVE GONE TO INCREASE THE SEEK FORMULA.

>> AND WHAT'S TO SAY THAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WON'T HAVE TO RAISE TAXES, PROPERTY TAXES IN THE LONG RUN.

WE'VE HEARD THAT ARGUMENT, LEADER THAYER.

>> SCHOOL CHOICE IS LONG OVERDUE IN KENTUCKY.

MY ONLY PROBLEM IS HOUSE BILL 563 IS IT DIDN'T GO FAR ENOUGH.

WE'RE ONLY ALLOWING SCHOLARSHIP TAX CREDITS AND THESE EDUCATIONAL IN COUNTIES THAT HAVE MORE THAN 90,000 RESIDENTS.

>> THE SCHOOL TUITION PART BUT IT CAN BE USED FOR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC REGARDLESS OF THE POPULATION.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

BUT THESE RED HERRING ARGUMENTS THAT THE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TOO USE TO CRITICIZE SCHOOL CHOICE AND OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIPS, THEY JUST -- THEY'RE UNPROVEN IN OTHER STATES.

TAKE FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE.

SINCE THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED BY GOVERNOR JEB BUSH, ONE OF THE NATIONAL LEADERS ON SCHOOL CHOICE, HE SENT ME AN EMAIL GRADUATING, AND I, AND I KNOW HE HAS EMAIL SEVERAL LEADERS CONSTRUCTING US ON OUR SUCCESS.

IN FLORIDA WE HAVE THESE EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AND THEY ARE FLUSHING AND SO ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN FLORIDA.

A LITTLE FLOURISH.

A LITTLE COMPETITION WILL MAKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS BETTER THAN THEY ARE TODAY.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THERE WERE A LOT OF PARENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC WHO WERE UPSET THAT THEY COULDN'T GET THEIR KIDS BACK INTO INTO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

NOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE CHOSE TO TAKE THEIR KIDS OUT OF SCHOOL AND HOME SCHOOL HEM, AND PARENTS WITH MEANS WERE ABLE TO TAKE THEIR KIDS AND PUT THEM IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS, BUT LOWER-INCOME WORKING FAMILIES DIDN'T HAVE THAT OPTION.

THIS AFFORDS THAT OPTION.

MAYBE ONE SIZE DOESN'T FIT ALL, AND THIS WILL NOT AFFORD THE LOW-INCOME WORKING PEOPLE THAT THE DEMOCRATS PROFESS TO REPRESENT THAT I WOULD ARGUE EPT REPUBLICANS ARE GOING A BETTER JOB REPRESENTING, I NOW GIVES THEM A CHOICE TO SEND THEIR CODY THE A BETTER SCHOOL IF THAT SCHOOL IS BETTER FOR THEIR CHILD.

>> IT WILL NEVER HELP THE RURAL AREAS.

THE HEARS THAT I REPRESENT.

ALL IT DOES IS DIVERT $25 MILLION THAT COULD BE SPENT ON PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IT DOESN'T EVEN APPLY TO SMALLER COUNTIES.

AND I'M GLAD IT DOESN'T APPLY BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT IT EXPANDED ANY FURTHER NUBS NOT THE SORT OF THING THAT IS EVER GOING TO HELP THE PLACES THAT I REPRESENT.

>> FIRST OF ALL, IF LEADER THAYER WANTS TO DO A SEPARATE SHOW WITH ME ON AN ARGUMENT OF WHICH PARTY IS HELPING WORKING PEOPLE MORE IN THIS COMMONWEALTH, I'M GLAD TO DO THAT ON A SEPARATE SHOW.

>> I'LL GO THROUGH EVERY BILL WE DO TO HELP THE WORKING FAMILIES IN THIS COMMONWEALTH.

>> WE'LL HAVE FUN.

>> KARAOKE NEXT.

>> YEAH.

BUT ALSO KEEP IN MIND HE REFERRED TO MY PHILOSOPHICAL ARGUMENT AS A RED HERRING, AND IT'S NOT.

THESE ARE PROVIDED SCHOOLS THAT ARE GETTING PUBLIC MONEY AND DO NOT HAVE THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS AS THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO THEIR STUDENTS.

THAT IS NOT A RED HERRING.

>> SO YOU'RE SAYING THEY CAN CHERRY PICK THE KIND STUDENTS THAT THEY WANT OR THEY CAN RAISE TUITION SO HIGH THAT IT WOULD OUTPRICE PEOPLE ANYWAY.

>> THEY'RE NOT GETTING THE MONEY.

THEY'RE JUST GETTING A TAX CREDIT.

THEY COULD DO A TAX DEDUCTION.

THE ARGUMENT IS TAX POLICY BECAUSE THESE COULD ALREADY EXIST.

>> THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TAX CREDIT.

>> THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TAX CREDIT AND TAX DEDUCTION BUT BY THAT SAME ARGUMENT YOU COULD SAY THAT THE TAX AT THE DEDUCTIONS THAT YOU GIVE TO YOUR CHURCH, THAT YOU COULD WRITE OFF OF YOUR TAXES IS MONEY THAT WOULD BE COULD BE DIVERTED AWAY FROM PUBLIC EDUCATION.

THE ARGUMENT IS 6 IS IT GOOD TAX POLICY OR NOT.

IT IS NOT ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE BECAUSE THEY COULD -- IF THEY'RE A 501(c)(3), YOU CAN GIVE TO IT RIGHT NOW AND GET A DEDUCTION.

I JUST DON'T LIKE THESE PARTICULAR -- >> IT'S HOW KIDS PAY FOR TUITION, BOOKS, AND SUPPLIES AND HELP THEM HAVE THE CHOICE THAT FAMILIES WITH MEANS HAVE IN MANY PARTS OF KENTUCKY, AND I'M SPLINTED THAT REPRESENTATIVE HATTON CRITICIZED SOME TAX CREDIT THAT IS HELPED CREATE JOBS IN RURAL AREAS LIKE THE FILM TAX CREDIT AND HISTORICAL TAX PRESERVATION.

>> I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THE WAY THAT IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT MY AREA.

>> THANK YOU, LADY.

THANK YOU, GENTLEMEN.

APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD DISCUSSION.

ANOTHER HOUR, I.

WE NEED TO HAVE A WHOLE NOTHER SHOW.

THANK YOU ALL FOR WATCHING AND ENJOY HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE COVERAGE OF OUR LEGISLATIVE THE LAST FEW MONTHS.